RICE STOCK

• Total rice stock as of May 1, 2008 was estimated at 2.25 million metric tons, around 357 thousand metric tons or 18.9 percent higher than last year’s stock for same period. It was also higher by 18.2 percent than the preceding month’s level of 1.90 million metric tons.
• Compared to last year, stock in the NFA depositories recorded a significant increase of 129.4 percent. NFA stock comprised 96 percent of imported rice. Stocks in commercial warehouses also went up by 7.1 percent, while household stocks went down by 0.6 percent.
• All sectors posted higher stock levels compared to previous month’s records.
• As of the reporting period, NFA rice stock was good for 18 days, while those in the households and commercial warehouses were good for 36 and 14 days, respectively. The current total stock is enough to last for 68 days.

CORN STOCK

• The total corn stock for May 1, 2008 amounted to 329.6 thousand metric tons. This is higher than the preceding month and last year’s levels by 26.7 and 61.8 percent, respectively.
• Compared to last year and month ago levels, stock drawdown was observed in the households at 11.0 percent and 26.7 percent, respectively. In contrast, stock in commercial warehouses went up by 159.9 percent and 90.7 percent compared to the levels last year and last month, respectively.
• Around 32 percent of the current corn stocks were with the households and 68 percent were with the commercial warehouses.
•  NFA reported no corn stock for the period.